“Love people. Cook them tasty food.” Those are six powerful words. It is purely coincidental—but nonetheless appropriate—that we christened our office cooking group Grill Team 6.
A team of deputies comprises this cadre of chefs, and a rotating cast of characters provides frequent assistance and hilarious banter. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Organization (SOCO) is the nonprofit 501(c)(3) that contributes financial support to and hands-on help with office initiatives, fundraising efforts, and food-prep projects.
SOCO and Grill Team 6 will again showcase their partnership on April 29 at our annual and highly anticipated Chicken Pickin’ fundraiser. That day, they fire up a dozen giant grills at 5:00 a.m. and prepare barbecued chicken plates with green beans, potatoes, and a roll. Members of the Timeless Cruizers Car Club donate the chicken and assist with grilling duties. SOCO helps with the behind-the-scenes prep necessary for such an ambitious undertaking. They also source supplies, help plate and package approximately 1,000 meals, and sell tickets. Drop by the office at 106 E. Margaret Lane in Hillsborough to purchase yours!
In 2023, SOCO used Chicken Pickin’ proceeds to help purchase 67 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for law enforcement and the South Orange Rescue Squad—its largest single donation to date. In the last two years, among many other contributions, SOCO has funded meals for disaster volunteers after Chantal, purchased CPR mannequins and child safety seats, replaced AED batteries and pads, ordered a new US flag for the office, and supported our annual Shop with the Sheriff event.
SOCO also helps us with our roasted corn-on-the-cob sale at Hog Day, an annual community event in September. Grill Team 6 knows just the right ratio of soaking to roasting time, and SOCO offers every customer a dazzling array of seasonings for a customized flavor experience. Every year, SOCO uses some of the corn sale revenue to award the Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass Memorial Scholarship to a high school senior planning to study criminal justice in college.
My team and I are committed to helping people age in place with dignity and support. We regularly prepare a hot dog lunch for up to 75 residents experiencing food insecurity or who are homebound. Grill Team 6 and Detention Center dietary staff cook the franks and fixings. SOCO packages the meals before we load them into Meals on Wheels vehicles for delivery.
We also believe in supporting those who visit or travel through Orange County. Therefore, we occasionally prepare food for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill while UNC Hospitals care for their children. It is incredibly stressful to be away from home, worried about your child, surrounded by strangers, and far from your usual sources of comfort and support. Coping with all of that—and figuring out how to feed yourself every day—is nearly impossible. Once again, we rely on SOCO to help us prepare, package, and serve the meals.
SOCO volunteers make snow cones and serve popcorn at community events. They bring us lunch on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. They show up to support and feed school bus drivers at our annual appreciation breakfast. But believe it or not, they are not only about food!
Last year, by my conservative estimate, they provided more than 1,500 hours of service, saving tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Many help with Shop with the Sheriff. Some come to the office to shred and file important documents. Others helps fingerprint those who need background checks for work. If we need a photographer at a community event and my communications manager is busy, we call Rob. When it’s time to put classroom materials together for Citizens’ Academy, Ken is the wizard.
Want to get involved? Buy tickets for the Chicken Pickin’—on sale now through April 20, 2026. Order ten or more plates and we will deliver. Consider attending our Citizens’ Academy, where you can have a good time, learn about the inner workings of our office, and qualify to become a SOCO member upon graduation. Plus, thanks to SOCO, we usually provide dinner! Clearly, we take Virginia Woolf to heart. She said, “One cannot think well, love well, or sleep well, if one has not dined well.” Take it from me—you also can’t Sheriff well! When we feed people, we are connecting with the community we serve, and SOCO volunteers help us do it.
Bon appétit!
